Being bothered at work - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

irseg · 02-09-2004, 11:27 AM

I have a one track mind. When I work on something, I get 100% focused on it and any distractions make me completely lose my train of thought.

My boss is a very nice guy; he's very sociable and loves to walk in my office several times a day and make small talk, stare over my shoulder, etc, etc. And he simply will not understand that this drives me nuts and destroys my productivity.

He just won't stop, and it's not like I don't tell him about it. I've tried being subtle and polite about it. I've tried saying "I'm going to ignore you now until I get this done, please leave me alone so I can think." NOTHING WORKS. I'm beginning to think he gets a kick out of driving me up the wall. It's gotten to the point that sometimes I'd just sit around and do nothing all day, then get work done from home where I can concentrate. Unfortunately it's a small company and he owns it, so there's no HR department or superiors of his to complain to either.

Anyone else have this problem with being bothered by other people? Is it typical to be easily distracted? I'm starting to think it's a combination of my all-or-nothing personality, introvertedness, and possibly some manifestation of ADD. Seems like most people can make small talk, have other people milling around, etc. without any problems whatsoever.

Evil Milkman · 02-09-2004, 11:39 AM

Is he like... "Yeeaaaahhh... I'm gonna need those TPF reports by this afternoon... If you just go ahead and do that, it'd be greeeaat... Thanks!"

He sounds like a nice guy, but needs something to do himself. If he has that much time to mill around he's probably pretty bored.

irseg · 02-09-2004, 11:46 AM

Hehe no, he's pretty much the opposite of that guy from Office Space. In fact I can't really think of a person to compare him to, the closest thing would be one of those hyperactive cats that runs around and climbs up the walls all day. And yes he does run out of things to do and so he wants to socialize, I think that's a big part of the problem.

And although it gets annoying as fuck, I really can't complain too much when he says "Hey get on 1942, let's blow some people up!"

KellyC · 02-09-2004, 11:39 PM

Lock the door and put up a "do not disturb" sign outside

bermuDa · 02-10-2004, 12:21 AM

I can socialize and work at the same time, or at least look like I am. A lot of my former coworkers were like that, but apparently that's not as common as i thought. I'm making an effort to avoid interrupting people when they're working/thinking, but it gets boring/lonely waiting for someone else to talk to me first.

m2k · 02-10-2004, 09:54 AM

We have a few guys like that where I work but people are so fed up now they just tell them to STFU and leave the cube.

Of course we can't say that to management but I don't think they know we exist anyway.

irseg · 02-10-2004, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KellyC
Lock the door and put up a "do not disturb" sign outside

I tried shutting the door but apparently that's some kind of major office environment faux pas. Which kind of defeats the purpose of having a damn door in the first plate, but oh well.

denim · 02-10-2004, 07:57 PM

Let's just say that if you ever find a good solution, please publish it widely.

Rodney · 02-11-2004, 08:32 AM

I had a boss who was the one always being disturbed, and we were all in cubies so there was no door to close. She finally put a full-sized cardboard standup of Clint Eastwood (her idol) in her cube entry with a "do not disturb" sign on it, when she didn't want company. It worked most of the time.

Lokus · 02-11-2004, 03:14 PM

Heh, that's an inventive solution. I'm with irseg on this one, I can't concentrate when someone's talking to me. Be it doing homework, working, chatting on IRC, it annoys the hell out of me. I don't really have any solutions, maybe you'll get used to it.

denim · 02-11-2004, 04:20 PM

It's not likely. Most people can't concentrate on what they're doing if they have to respond to someone talking to them. I wonder if the boss might understand if you manage to tell him that he's preventing you from doing your job. I mean, if he wants to pay irseg to chat with him, that's his call, but I expect he would prefer that irseg get work done. Not so? His choice.

02-09-2004, 11:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
irseg Junkie Location: Florida	Being bothered at work I have a one track mind. When I work on something, I get 100% focused on it and any distractions make me completely lose my train of thought. My boss is a very nice guy; he's very sociable and loves to walk in my office several times a day and make small talk, stare over my shoulder, etc, etc. And he simply will not understand that this drives me nuts and destroys my productivity. He just won't stop, and it's not like I don't tell him about it. I've tried being subtle and polite about it. I've tried saying "I'm going to ignore you now until I get this done, please leave me alone so I can think." NOTHING WORKS. I'm beginning to think he gets a kick out of driving me up the wall. It's gotten to the point that sometimes I'd just sit around and do nothing all day, then get work done from home where I can concentrate. Unfortunately it's a small company and he owns it, so there's no HR department or superiors of his to complain to either. Anyone else have this problem with being bothered by other people? Is it typical to be easily distracted? I'm starting to think it's a combination of my all-or-nothing personality, introvertedness, and possibly some manifestation of ADD. Seems like most people can make small talk, have other people milling around, etc. without any problems whatsoever.

02-09-2004, 11:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
irseg Junkie Location: Florida	Hehe no, he's pretty much the opposite of that guy from Office Space. In fact I can't really think of a person to compare him to, the closest thing would be one of those hyperactive cats that runs around and climbs up the walls all day. And yes he does run out of things to do and so he wants to socialize, I think that's a big part of the problem. And although it gets annoying as fuck, I really can't complain too much when he says "Hey get on 1942, let's blow some people up!" Last edited by irseg; 02-09-2004 at 11:48 AM..

02-09-2004, 11:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
KellyC Comment or else!! Location: Home sweet home	Lock the door and put up a "do not disturb" sign outside __________________ Him: Ok, I have to ask, what do you believe? Me: Shit happens.

02-10-2004, 12:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
bermuDa don't ignore this--> Location: CA	I can socialize and work at the same time, or at least look like I am. A lot of my former coworkers were like that, but apparently that's not as common as i thought. I'm making an effort to avoid interrupting people when they're working/thinking, but it gets boring/lonely waiting for someone else to talk to me first. __________________ I am the very model of a moderator gentleman.

02-10-2004, 09:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
m2k Insane Location: In There	We have a few guys like that where I work but people are so fed up now they just tell them to STFU and leave the cube. Of course we can't say that to management but I don't think they know we exist anyway. __________________ I <3 clear heels!

02-09-2004, 11:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
Evil Milkman Addict Location: Illinois	Is he like... "Yeeaaaahhh... I'm gonna need those TPF reports by this afternoon... If you just go ahead and do that, it'd be greeeaat... Thanks!" He sounds like a nice guy, but needs something to do himself. If he has that much time to mill around he's probably pretty bored.

02-10-2004, 07:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
denim Banned Location: Massachusetts, USA	Let's just say that if you ever find a good solution, please publish it widely.

02-11-2004, 08:32 AM	#9 (permalink)
Rodney Observant Ruminant Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town	I had a boss who was the one always being disturbed, and we were all in cubies so there was no door to close. She finally put a full-sized cardboard standup of Clint Eastwood (her idol) in her cube entry with a "do not disturb" sign on it, when she didn't want company. It worked most of the time.

02-11-2004, 03:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
Lokus I can't think of a good title Location: East Bay Area, CA	Heh, that's an inventive solution. I'm with irseg on this one, I can't concentrate when someone's talking to me. Be it doing homework, working, chatting on IRC, it annoys the hell out of me. I don't really have any solutions, maybe you'll get used to it. __________________ The black wind howls...

02-11-2004, 04:20 PM	#11 (permalink)
denim Banned Location: Massachusetts, USA	It's not likely. Most people can't concentrate on what they're doing if they have to respond to someone talking to them. I wonder if the boss might understand if you manage to tell him that he's preventing you from doing your job. I mean, if he wants to pay irseg to chat with him, that's his call, but I expect he would prefer that irseg get work done. Not so? His choice.